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The neighborhood park that's 15 years overdue

SAN YSIDRO -- They were promised a park 15 years ago. However, a San Ysidro hillside at the end of Beyer Boulevard still sits untouched.

“It’s been about 15 years since it was promised and clearly there’s nothing here,” said San Diego City Councilman David Alvarez.

A sign at the edge of the property was recently removed. It said it was the future site of Beyer Park in 2017.

“It sat there, I’m going to say for at least two or three years,” said long time San Ysidro resident Salvador Gonzalez.

Councilman Alvarez said the city is going back to the drawing board.

“We’re doing it again this year,” he said. “But now we’re getting the community involved.”

Alvarez hosted a community rally right in front of the empty space Thursday. He wants about $300,000 in next year’s budget for the park. That’s just to finish planning. The actual park will cost millions, which is why it probably won’t be done by 2017.

“You could be frustrated and mad. That’s one response but we take action,” said Alvarez, who added San Ysidro only has 40% of the park space it needs.

“We got about 45 acres out of 107 that are needed,” he said.

“Areas like Eastlake, La Jolla, places like that, things get done. They get done right away,” complained Gonzalez. “You treat us like your unwanted child for some reason.”

“This community deserves better,” said Alvarez. “It’s been a very neglected community.”

A similar thing happened with a sidewalk between a neighborhood and San Ysidro High School. That sidewalk was promised in 2002. It’s finally under construction 14 years later.

“Why does it seem to happen that way?” asked Gonzalez.

The community plans to begin voicing its concerns during a San Diego budget hearing May 5.